On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Third Engineer William Turnbull serving on S.S. War Firth with the Mercantile Marine who died 04/09/1918.
He was the son of John Smith Turnbull and Isabella Turnbull (nee Gentles), of 9, Villette Mount, Sunderland.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following;
William Turnbull was one of 8 children of whom only 5 had survived by 1911.
His father John Smith Turnbull was born at Sunderland, historically in County Durham, July 30th 1860 and was the son of engine fitter, Matthew Turnbull and Margaret Smith. His mother Isabella Gentles was born, May 1st 1862 at Leamside, a village near to Durham City, County Durham. Isabelle was the daughter of telegraph inspector, John Gentles and Isabella Robertson.
The couple were married, September 1st 1885 at West Rainton, County Durham where Isabella was living with her parents at, “The Old Hall,” on Main Street in the centre of the village. Their son John Smith Turnbull Jnr was born during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1886 at Sunderland but died in April 1888 whilst Isabella was only weeks away from giving birth to their second child. It was reported in the Northern Daily Mail edition of April 30th 1888 that John Smith Turnbull Jnr., 18 months old, had tragically choked to death whilst eating a piece of bridescake.
The couple’s daughter Isabella Margaret, was born May 12th 1888, but two years passed before Isabella gave birth again. Matthew Turnbull was born in 1890 and Sarah in 1891 while they were living at 9, St. Leonard’s Street, Hendon, Sunderland. John Smith Snr was employed as a travelling wholesale grocer to support his growing family. Hilda Turnbull was born in 1892, William 1893, Frederick, January 21st 1896 and Phylis in 1899.
John had transferred his family to 29, Percy Street, Hendon, by 1901 and had also changed his occupation, listed in the census as a telegrapher. Tragedy befell their family once again when in 1902, their 12 year old son Matthew died.
May 5th 1910 their daughter Isabella Margaret was married at St. George’s Presbyterian Church, Sunderland, to engine fitter, William Stanley Fraser, who was the son of marine engineer William Fraser and Jenny Hasalman. Their daughter Jenny May was born in 1910. By that time John Smith Turnbull Snr had returned to his previous occupation as a commercial traveller.
In 1911 sadly their 19 year old daughter Sarah died in the district of Lanchester while the family was living in 9 rooms at 9, Villette Mount, Sunderland.
John Smith Turnbull was once again working as a commercial traveller, Hilda (19) assisted her mother with household duties, William (17) was an apprentice marine engineer, Frederick (15) an apprentice nurseryman, Phylis (12) a scholar.
As early as 1911 there were already rumblings of a possibility of war with Germany. Within hours of Germany, as part of a massive attack on France, invaded Belgium violating Belgian neutrality, after a request to Britain by the Belgians for help, London gave Berlin an ultimatum which expired August 4th 1914 at 11 p.m. London time. When this was ignored, King George V then declared war on Germany that same evening. In answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and the order that all regiments raise new battalions, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country.
William Turnbull joined the Mercantile Marine and was serving as Third Engineer aboard the S.S. War Firth (London) in 1918. A cargo ship, the S.S. War Firth was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean, 33 nautical miles south by west of The Lizard, Cornwall by SM U-53 of the Imperial German Navy with the loss of eleven crew, September 4th 1918. Third Engineer William Turnbull is deemed to have drowned at sea.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of 36,059 names inscribed on Tower Hill Memorial which stands on the south side of the garden of Trinity Square, London, commemorating men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and have no known grave. He was 24 years of age and single. Awards; Mercantile Marine Medal and British War Medal.
In 1939 commercial traveller John and Isabella were still living at 9, Villette Mount, Sunderland, which they shared with their daughter Isabella Margaret and their two granddaughters.
John Smith Turnbull died July 27th 1940, his effects in the sum of £300 were assigned to his daughter Isabella Margaret Fraser, August 31st 1940. His widow Isabella Turnbull nee Gentles died in 1948, both registered at Sunderland, historically in County Durham until 1974.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace
William Turnbull is remembered at Hendon on H123.02, at Sunderland in S140.48 Part 8 page 179 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
